Taiwan Quick Take

AGENCIES

■ Earthquake4.6 temblor shakes Ilan

An earthquake measuring 4.6 on the Richter scale rocked the northeast yesterday, the Seismology Center said, but there were no immediate reports of damage or casualties. The quake hit at 10:01pm with an epicenter 28km northeast of Ilan. The earthquake originated 11km underground.

■ Health

Healthy people to get prizes

Being healthy can pay off, especially if you're one of the estimated 57,000 people who have never used the national health insurance system, as the insurance bureau will reward over 1,100 non-users with prizes in a draw today. The National Health Insurance Bureau was begun 10 years ago, Hsu Chung-I (許忠役), a division chief at the bureau said, adding that the bureau will reward those who have never taken advantage of the insurance program, although they have had to pay into it. The biggest prize in the lottery will be a 29-inch television, Hsu said.

■ Economy

Growth expected to slow

The economy is expected to grow at a rate of 4.21 percent this year, while the first quarter rate will register 4.03 percent, the Directorate General of Budget, Accounting and Statistics (DGBAS) reported yesterday. Affected by a global economic slowdown, the DGBAS expects that economic growth this year will not achieve the 5.71 percent seen last year. The statistics also showed that the economy is expected to grow by 4.08 percent in the second quarter this year, with third quarter at 4.24 percent and fourth quarter at 4.46 percent.

■ Politics

TSU legislator hosts dinner

Taiwan Solidarity Union Legislator Lo Chi-ming (羅志明) held a large-scale dinner party in Kaohsiung's Labor Park to express thanks to his vote captains last night. The dinner party filled 495 tables. Lo yesterday declined to respond to speculation that the party was related to his intention to run for Kaohsiung mayor next year. While party members have advised him to run for the southern special municipality's top position, he said he would respect the public's opinion, adding that there should be only one candidate running for the pan-green camp in the Kaohsiung mayoral election.

■ War reparations

US group to target Japan

A US anti-violence movement launched a justice campaign yesterday in New York to seek an official apology and compensation for women forced into wartime brothels run by the Japanese army. Japan's government has refused to provide official compensation for the so-called "comfort women," claiming postwar treaties dealt with the issue. Historians estimate that 200,000 women, from Korea, the Philippines, Taiwan, China, Indonesia and the Netherlands, were pressed into prostitution for millions of Japanese soldiers before and during World War II. Some were forced to have sex with up to 50 men a day. The campaign includes a petition seeking 1 million signatures to be presented to the UN demanding that Japan take legal responsibility for crimes of military sexual slavery and protesting Japan's aim to become a permanent member of the UN Security Council. Other campaign events include the construction of museums in Japan, South Korea and Taiwan document-ing the enslavement of the women, demonstrations in the Netherlands, a street march in Taiwan, as well as photo exhibits and testimonial books in Japan, the Philippines and Taiwan.